[February
11, 2013]WASHINGTON -- On Friday,
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack reminded Hispanic and women
farmers and ranchers who allege discrimination by the USDA in past
decades that there are 45 days remaining in the filing period
closing March 25.

"Hispanic and women farmers who believe they have faced
discriminatory practices in the past from the USDA have 45 days
left to file a claim in order to have a chance to receive a cash
payment or loan forgiveness," said Vilsack. "USDA urges
potential claimants to contact the claims administrator for
information and mail their claim packages on or before March 25,
2013."

The process offers a voluntary alternative to
litigation for each Hispanic or female farmer and rancher who
can prove that USDA denied his or her application for loan or
loan servicing assistance for discriminatory reasons for certain
time periods between 1981 and 2000. As announced in February
2011, the voluntary claims process will make available at least
$1.33 billion for cash awards and tax relief payments, plus up
to $160 million in farm debt relief, to eligible Hispanic and
women farmers and ranchers. There are no filing fees to
participate in the program.

The department will continue reaching out to potential
Hispanic and female claimants around the country to get the word
out to individuals who may be eligible for this program so they
have the opportunity to participate.

Call center representatives can be reached at 1-888-508-4429.
Claimants may register for a claims package by calling the
number or visiting the website or may download the forms from
the website. All those interested in learning more or receiving
information about the claims process and claims packages are
encouraged to attend meetings in their communities about the
claims process and make contact through the website at any time
or through the call center telephone number Monday through
Friday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time.

Independent legal services companies will administer the
claims process and adjudicate the claims. Although there are no
filing fees to participate and a lawyer is not required to
participate in the claims process, individuals seeking legal
advice may contact a lawyer or other legal services provider.

Under Vilsack's leadership, USDA has instituted a comprehensive plan
to strengthen the department as a model service provider and to
ensure that every farmer and rancher is treated equally and fairly
as part of "a new era of civil rights" at USDA. In February 2010,
the secretary announced the Pigford II settlement with
African-American farmers, and in October 2010, he announced the
Keepseagle settlement with Native American farmers. Both of those
settlements have since received court approval. Unlike the cases
brought by African-American and Native American farmers, the cases
filed by Hispanic and women farmers over a decade ago were not
certified as class actions. The claims process provides a voluntary
alternative to continuing litigation for Hispanic and female farmers
and ranchers who want to use it.